Edition Bobbett2. Speeches and statements by Elizabeth F. Bobbett

1950 Clash, Meeting of the Irish Farmers’ Federation

Source: Wicklow People, 01.04.1950

The Secretary (Miss Elizabeth F. Bobbett) stressed the fact that there were no politics in the Federation which was a properly established trades union. They could not pledge themselves to any candidates or organisation, as they included all points of views within their membership. She understood that there was a likelihood of a great many young people standing this year as candidates.

Secretary’s Report: The Secretary, in the course of her report, mentioned that during the past year they had held meetings in Aughrim, Roundwood, Rathdrum and Clash, and among the various forms of activity with which they concerned themselves, was the Land Rehabilitation Scheme. She pointed out that it was their Federation which first approached Mr. Joseph Carrigan, the ECA Chief, telling him that the Irish farmers were in great need of credit, and that as the country depended on agricultural exports, it was most urgent that Marshall Aid money should be devoted to helping agricultural output. They had also pressed the necessity for cheap fertilisers. The Federation had also taken up the matter of spring-lamb prices with the Minister for Industry and Commerce, who had extended the period to June. They had striven to secure better prices for oats and pigs, and they had helped to establish the Ratepayers’ Association. They had also pressed for loans for farmers under the Farms Improvement Scheme, as many farmers cannot avail of the grants when they had not the ready money with which to proceed with the work.

There had been eight meetings of their Executive during the year, and at all times they had keenly maintained their interest in matters affecting farmers. Farmers had been perhaps in a better position than usual for the past couple of years, but if prices have been maintained in certain directions, there has been an all-round increase in cost of production. From reading the newspapers she had noticed that a suggestion had been made in the south from the YFC that they should start a farmers’ organisation to deal with milk prices, etc. She complained that the big “snag” in all their efforts to organise the farmers nationally was that they all held a parochial, localised outlook. The farmers of the West were affected by certain things and did not look further to the south, who in turn were concerned with milk prices, etc. One set always forgot the section in another part of the country which sought to specialise in a particular direction. The Farmers’ Federation, on the other hand, held a broad platform, catered for farmers of different grades, and if they would but unite to help one another within its ranks she thought it would be much more helpful to them all. She thought, too, that a strong appeal should be made to have the farmers of each county organise into the Federation.

Looking to the future, she feared that the time would come quickly when they would be faced with a surplus of produce, with consequent decrease in prices. Who then would be found to take over farms? She deplored the lack of national outlook as bad policy in which economic conditions drove out the stock that had been linked with their agricultural life for generations, and allowed in complete strangers. They would see farmers turning away to seek other means of livelihood when they lacked security and promise of the future in the land. The Federation might be blamed for having rather advanced views, but in other countries the people have been able to give their farmers guaranteed prices over a number of years, and this has been done by means of a “price-support policy.” Denmark, Holland and other European countries and several American countries, New Zealand, etc. – all have accomplished this, and if they can do so, she saw no reason why the Irish Government could not adopt the same policy towards the Irish farmers. Mr. James Dillon’s new plan was only in the offing and she believed it would not be put into force if the creamery interests do not approve of it. She was only expressing her own views when she said she considered the southern milk producers would be very foolish to put all their eggs into the one basket, by keeping on with milk to creameries only. They had one market which had not satisfied yet and will not be so for a long time to come – the beef and store trade to Britain. If milk producers supply the creameries only and a subsidy has to be paid for butter exports, it was, to her mind, foolish policy and it would be better to concentrate on the dual purpose cow and have store cattle. For those and other reasons there should go from the National Convention on Wednesday next a strong appeal to all farmers in all counties to unite within their Federation ranks for their future protection. They welcomed new members, new ideas, and if these wanted new officers, they, too, would be welcomed; if they wanted the constitution changed, let them propose those changes and they would be carried out in a legal manner. The main point was that there was no need in any part of Ireland to start a new farmers’ organisation when they had had one for more than 12 years.